4 (and a half) tips for road trips!

4 (and a half) tips for road trips!

Putting together a road trip is all about being prepared. With these four (and a half!) tips, you can successfully plan and execute a great road trip with no unexpected hitches along the way!

Clean your car before and during your trip

There’s a very old phrase that you should heed before and throughout any road trip: cleanliness is next to godliness. Nobody enjoys sitting in a confined space for an extended period of time with rubbish and dirt everywhere, so give your car a good cleaning before setting off and take a bit of time to clean it out during as well.

If you’re really after a bit of luxury on your road trip as well, look into hiring a car as well. ICL came recommended for their competitive pricing and are available throughout the UK with a wide selection available for personal hire. Obviously, you'll have to keep it clean throughout your trip, but even that will be easier considering you'll be getting a clean car to begin with!

Have a loose plan.

The importance of having a rough plan cannot be underestimated when it comes to a road trip. While nobody wants to have a completely planned out road trip with no flexibility, nobody wants to be stressed out dealing with unhappy passengers for hours at a time either. You can use apps such as Roadtrippers to build a route and also look for interesting places and sights along the way.

Have an escape plan to get off country roads?

You can have the very best intentions of taking in a bit of a scenic route and going down the path less travelled. However, this comes with its own risks of not actually knowing where you’re going and ending up stuck down endless back roads. Saga has a great guide for driving down country roads if you do end up needing it however!

If you do find yourself a little bit lost, you don’t have to persevere down the country roads. Have a plan B ready to escape the country roads, and get your road trip back on track. You’ll be better off and ready to go again once you’ve got your bearings back.

Preload your phone with entertainment options.

Having some entertainment options can be the difference between having a peaceful time, and developing a case of cabin fever! Stock up on distractions and portable entertainment that you can load on to your phone before you set off. After all, there is no guarantee that you’ll be able to find these on the road during your trip.

And if you don’t manage to get this done for your children,  you can always refer to this for tips on keeping your sanity!

Eat local and stay local

Finally, it’s a road trip. You’re taking in the darkened corners of the towns and villages that you’re travelling through. Make the most of it and live as much like a local as you can. Don’t stop to eat at a chain restaurant or coffee shop. Seek out a local favourite, find the village pub or the quiet little fish and chip shop. If you need a place to rest your head for the night, find a local bed and breakfast and really experience the culture and local quirks. Your road trip might be a once in a lifetime experience, so make it a unique, memorable time that you’ll always fondly look back on!

Fun Fact: If you're sleepy, STOP! Or you will die. ;)

Desperate to overhaul your kitchen? Try this... (Before and after photos!)

I have spent countless hours working on home renovation projects. The hallway stair job took three or four weeks, the small little hallway took two weeks. Everything has been labor intensive and taken days to complete.

Then I painted my kitchen.

In three days.

It was hands-down the easiest renovation project I have done to date. And my mind is absolutely melting over the fact that it is the biggest, best, most amazing, feel-good Home Renovation transformation yet.

I just can't get over it. It has been the most amazing process redoing my kitchen.

All I did was paint the cabinets and change the hardware. That's it. But it, somehow, changed everything! The way I feel about my kitchen. The way it looks. The size of it. Everything. 

If you follow me on Instagram, then you know, I painted the corner of my kitchen first. Not only did I fall in love instantly, the Aussie did too! He looked at me and said, It looks good! Go ahead, paint the bloody kitchen. 

Then I said, well... I kind of wanted to try something...

I saw a kitchen on Pinterest that was half gray and half white. I loved it. And, had to try it.

Only, I had a gallon of blue-silver-grey paint on hand.

Over the next three days, I took every door and drawer off and painted and painted. Then, painted some more. When it got dark, I moved the party inside. I was determined to finish over the weekend. I also left everything in the cupboards. I just the contents of each shelf as far back as I could.

Thanks to free one-day Amazon Prime delivery, I was able to order 50 cabinet knobs (2 packs of 25) for $47, and have them at my door Saturday afternoon.

                                                           
I couldn't believe how well everything came together.

Then, while at Target in between coats of paint, I nearly died when the most perfect rugs were on clearance for under $10.  I bought 2! They are puuuuuuurrrrrrrrrfect!

NOTE: You may notice a different floor from the before photo. That photo was taken the day we first saw the house. The floor was thought to be asbestos, so we did the most environmentally friendly thing possible, cover it.
My mom walked in and gasped. Then said, This isn't even the same kitchen. It's like it's brand new! 

That's exactly how I felt. It's this new fun space with endless possibilities. It took me two years, but now I love and embrace my little kitchen. Most of all, I love that I took a chance on the two colors. While, I am not too sure about it, every time I look at my kitchen, my heart smiles.



I'm not bothered by the horrible countertops or being closed in. For the first time in two years, I love my kitchen! And all it took was a weekend, three coats of paint and the balls to try something different.

I cannot recommend enough doing this if you hate your kitchen. Take the leap, it is SO worth it!

How To Protect Your Family From Holiday Opportunists

Sadly, with the holidays comes, thieving holiday opportunist. A.k.a soulless, moralless, heartless, thieving asshats. Holiday Opportunist come in all shapes, sizes, and walks of life. They are waiting to catch you on your phone walking to your car with bags of gifts. They are standing next to your shopping cart in the grocery store waiting for the right moment to take your wallet. They are driving around your neighborhood looking for packages on doorsteps, walking through your flower beds looking for a hidden key. Below are a few solid tips to help you Protect Your Family From Holiday Opportunists 

Monitored home security. 

PAID: One of the best options for protection is hiring a professional home security company to install a mega monitoring system. Most of the top security companies install wireless systems that allow remote monitoring via an app.

FREE-ISH: If monthly monitoring fees are out of the question, install your own, app-controlled security system. For under $300, my husband installed nine HD cameras, including a doorbell camera. The system came with access to a free app that allows us to monitor all nine cameras on one screen, or watch an individual camera. The app also records and stores days of video. I LOVE IT! I also love when someone rings the doorbell, the app alerts me and opens the video and intercom feature with one touch. We screw with the neighbors so bad. Always.

                                                                  

Avoid hiding keys and remote controls outside.

Stop hiding house keys and garage-door remote controls inside fake garden rocks, in flower pots, in magnetic boxes under outdoor metal staircases, under statues in the flower beds, or under welcome mats, thieves are hip to your game. Instead, leave a key with the neighbor or in the neighbor's yard if you must have a key outside. There was a news story last week showing a burglar looking for a hidden key. The homeowners had cameras that recorded him. Luckily he didn't get the key, and they got the video to blast his face on the local news! Also, do not leave your garage door remote in your car when you need to park outside. It's basically handing a key to your house over to the opportunist-asshat.

Call the police if anything seems off. 

Never hesitate to call the police if something seems off. Do not go in your house. The police give

free home inspections. Your life is worth so much more.

Keep your handbag attached to you when shopping. 

After repeated news reports of women having their wallets stolen out of their handbag in Target, Walmart, and the grocery store, I've stopped putting my bag in the cart. The opportunist look for easy access wallets and follow their victim until the perfect opportunity to snatch the wallet presents itself. If you must set your bag in the cart, keep it zipped and attached to the cart with the child restraint belt looped and locked around it.

Stay alert and off your phone in parking lots.

Holiday opportunist love nothing more than a holiday shopper carrying full bags while gabbing on the phone, fumbling for car keys. Seriously, a toddler could take the mark in that state. BEFORE leaving the store, get off the phone, locate your keys and scan the parking lot for unsavory suspects standing around. Walk straight to your car, and if at any point you feel followed, threatened or scared, turn around and walk back to the store. Also, screaming is huge if it's too late to turn around. Don't fight back, scream loud AF instead.

Be Porch Pirate Proactive

Porch Pirates are out in full force during the holidays, especially around Black Friday and Cyber Monday. It's essential you track and be proactive about package deliveries. Chances are a porch pirate is driving down the streets of your neighborhood right now looking for a package to pluck from a porch. Always track shipments so you know when to expect them. On delivery day, ask a neighbor to be on the lookout and grab the package. Set up text or email alerts that let you know when the package has been delivered and slip home during lunch.

Don't advertise your purchases. 

Nothing says, rob me!, like a 65" Smart TV and Playstation box on the curb. Never put boxes for big-ticket items outside in plain sight. Always break down the boxes or take to a recycling center.

Hide your gifts anywhere but under the tree.

The worst of the Holiday Opportunist scum are more than happy to break into your house on Christmas Eve and steal every gift under the tree. Wait until Christmas morning to put the bulk of the present under the tree.

Last, here are a few random tips I found doing research worth mentioning:

• Don't be a target
• Wear comfortable casual clothes when shopping and avoid wearing expensive jewelry
• Lock doors and windows when leaving the house, even for a few minutes. 
• Set lights on timers and leave the TV or Radio on when leaving for an extended period of time. 
• If you are concerned about walking to your car at night, ask for a store escort or security guard. 
• Carry ONE credit card, not a wallet full. That way, if it’s lost or stolen, you only have to cancel one.
• Place valuable items in your trunk before your next stop.
• NEVER announce travel plans on social media. Avoid posting photos until you have returned home.

10 Ways Save Big Money And Your Sanity This Holiday Season

Before I get started, I need you to repeat your new Holiday Shopping Mantra after me...

I WILL NOT PAY FULL PRICE THIS HOLIDAY SEASON!

The following tips will help you stick to that mantra.

1. Make A List.  Probably the biggest holiday shopping mistake a person can make is going shopping without a solid plan. Going to the shops with a 'loose list' of people to shop for and only a vague idea of what you want to buy is dangerous on so many levels. From over buying to completely forgetting Aunt Thelma... Everyone's been naughty, just make the damn list already!

TIP: Make a list of anyone and everyone you may want/need to buy gifts for, then add your vague gift ideas. Maybe even go so far as to just come out and ask them what they want. Then use this as your master list. Stick to it, and when that person has been taken care of, write down what you got them, and cross them off the list. Organization is key.

2. THIS IS NOT ABOUT YOU! I am so bad about shopping for myself during the holidays. So bad. As much I'm a huge fan of retail therapy, there are two major flaws with this:

1. My holiday shopping time and budget are limited.
2. The post-holiday clearance sales in January are WAY BETTER.

It's best to leave yourself out of the equation until after the holidays.

3. Leave the distractions at home.  When possible, avoid taking your child(ren) with you.  Even if this means trading all of your lunch breaks until January.  Brown bag it and shop in peace. Kids only complicate the mission with their begging, meltdowns and diaper blowouts.

4. Price shop from home.  There are way too many apps and websites available today to not to compare prices both online and in stores. Take Your Master List and price shop online before you step foot in an actual store. Write down where the best deal is, then check your list once finished for stores or websites that overlap. This can save you a bundle on shipping and time. Between the coupon apps and the compare-and-save apps, there is no reason to pay full price anymore in store or online.

Example:  I needed a big ticket item from a big box hardware store. I went to their website, found what I wanted, then searched for a coupon code.  I was able to save 20% at checkout with a coupon code I found on Ebates.  What made the deal even sweeter was that I opted for an in-store pickup.  This saved me time and money. DO THIS!!!

5. Regift it! Before you do any of the things on this list, grab a box and walk around your house filling it with crap you don't want anymore. Remember, your crap is another person's treasure. Somehow. Once you have filled the box, sit down and decide which friend/family member or what holiday party's Secret Santa you can pawn your crap gift the goods to.

6. Coupon like a crazy person.  Coupons are everywhere these days, don't buy without them! Don't just rely on coupon specific websites and apps, check the website for the store you are heading to.  So many stores will scan the coupons off your phone. If you shop at Target and don't use the Cartwheel app... bad, bad, bad.

7. Don't discount the discount sites. Websites like Amazon, Groupon, Zulily, Overstock, Wayfarer...  all will be fighting for attention this season, so capitalize on it!  Most are even offering free shipping on the smallest orders. I have each bookmarked this time of year to check quickly for steals on things on my list.

TIP: GiftCardGranny is a totally legit site to get gift cards at super discounted prices. So before you buy a gift card in a store, check Gift Card Granny first.

8.  Shop Secondhand. What does every parent have in common at 2 am on Christmas Eve/Hanukkah? They're putting together toys. So, if you are going to give your child a fully assembled toy anyway, why not just buy it secondhand, shine it up and slap a bow on it? Second-hand children's stores and higher end consignment shops have incredible deals on gently used items... so worth checking out!

9. Hit up Pinterest and get crafty. Make something for the person that has everything.  Every year I knit hats and scarves for family and friends. They all look forward to them now; some even put in orders for specific colors.

10. Never Shop Online unless you get cash back! I'm OBSESSED with Ebates. The site not only gives you cash back on purchases, it enters the best coupon code for you. No shit. If you've never checked out eBates, YOU'RE MISSING OUT!!!   I have made over $110 in cash back shopping. Some of the money has already been directly deposited in my PayPal account. Seriously, if you shop online, I cannot recommend enough signing up for Ebates. (Tip: download the browser buttons and all cash back offers and coupons are automatically offered when you start shopping on a website.)

How do you save big during the holidays? If you have any tips or tricks, please please please share them!!!!

I get it. I hated kindergarten, too. It's scary.

The days leading up to my son starting kindergarten, he was so excited. He was going to, "get to ride the bus with the big kids in our neighborhood." He was going to, "get to go to the big school with all of his cousins and friends.  

Even on the morning of the first day, he was visibly more excited than scared. Of course, I could see the fear in his eyes but it was still overshadowed by his excitement. I was so proud of my little man.

I, on the other hand, was worried AF about how he would like it if he would have fun, miss me, need me... My girlfriends who had already been through the kindergarten-mania insisted he was having the best time. I held fast to this hope while still counting the minutes until I could hold him. 

When the bus arrived my heart was jumping out of my chest, I couldn't wait to hold my little pumpkin! He clung to the rail while descending the stairs of the bus, then practically jumped off to my arms. I scooped him up and held him tight and asked him how his day was. He said, awful, mommy, then jumped out of my arms and ran down the sidewalk about four houses, then ran back. He repeated it four times before running up the walkway to our house. 

Later that night, he told me school was awful because his teacher yells at the children and the day is "way too long." My heart broke knowing there was nothing I could do but send him back in the morning.

The rest of the week was exactly the same. He climbs off the bus, jumps in my arms, then after hugs and kisses jump out of my arms to run four or five laps up and down the sidewalk. After the second day, he started having mini-meltdowns or asshole-attitude outburst after his sidewalk jaunt. This always lasted for about an hour followed by an apology while climbing in my lap.

By the end of week two, I was prepared for his after school routine I started to think his running up and down the sidewalk must have something to do with all the energy he has to suppress trying to be a good boy all day. 

He's on his third week of school and has yet to admit he likes it. He always tells me how his teacher yells at the kids, the music teacher scares him, and then last Friday, the bus driver yelled at some kids to sit down and now Ollie is no longer a fan of, Mr. John.

I get it. I hated kindergarten too. It's scary. You're away from mommy and daddy all day, you have to listen to these strangers who yell sometimes and then there's the 5-year-old fear that if you don't be good, you're going to go to the dungeon and be locked up.

As much as I want to pull him out of school and hold him close to me all day long, school is so important. We both have to push through this adjustment period. The education, life lessons, social skills, and routine are crucial, and not something I can provide very well at home. (I'm talking about ME, not you homeschool mom/dad, you're amazing.)  Plus, I keep telling myself, if he really hated it, he would put up more of a protest in the morning. My kid is a stubborn mule, if he really truly hated kindergarten, he would let me know.

The Back-To-School Guide For First-Timers

For me, the first week of school was the most eye-opening, intimidating experience for me. Between orientation, buying school supplies, paying fees, and leaving my son with people I had only met once before, I thought I was going to need an IV of Valium to make it through the week.

Nothing beats first-time parent ignorance. Silly me, I thought back to school would be easy and fun. Wrong. Wrong. Wrong. Thankfully, I survived to tell the story. Below is a full recount of the top 5 Eye-Opening Lessons I Learned During my first Back-To-School Week.

1. It's A Whole New World- So much for the easy days of the 'Mother's Day Out' program, my son attended 2-4 days a week at church; 'Real school' is a whole new world.

Picture it, Parents everywhere, children everywhere, kids crying, parents crying, photo after photo being taken in front of the school. Teachers shoving stacks of papers in your hand with lists, rules, expectations, and snack rotation schedules, all while your child is clinging to you for dear life, begging you not to leave him in this madhouse.

I'm not really sure what I expected, but I definitely didn't expect all that chaos. I quickly learned my son and I were one of MANY. The sooner we got with the program, the better. Give yourself PLENTY of time on the first day of school to swim through the chaos.

2.  Your child isn't the only one crying on the first day of school. The first day of school was rough for both Ollie and I, but we were certainly not the only ones. It was beyond cute watching the moms and dads taking photos in front of school with their child in the favorite outfit. Whole families were tearing up. At times, I couldn't tell who was being braver, the parents or the child. Starting school is a huge step, yes, but it's also a huge reminder that our babies are growing up.

3.  Moms bite. Hard. Especially in the morning. I get it. It's 8:30am, everyone is trying to get the kid(s) to school and be at work by 9am for the Monday morning meeting, but who knew the morning rush is a full-on knockdown, don't-fuck-up-carpool and get-outta-my-way mad dash? Get ready to watch the seasoned parents show you how to get your kid in class and be back in the car in 4.3 seconds flat.

Thankfully, I am not that mom, so I am a little less rushed, but God help me for not getting out of the way of the mom that is! The mornings are the worst. Thankfully, it gets a little less frantic about a month into the new year.

4. Organization is key. During the orientation and the first few weeks of school, expect a small forest in reading materials. I cannot get over how much there is to know about school in general, State laws in regard to education and the ridiculous amount of activities, fundraisers and school events... I'm expected to attend and work.

By bestie and seasoned mom said the best thing you can do is print out the school's calendar of events for the entire year to stay on top of important dates and events, check the backpack DAILY and open a solid (respectful) line of communication with your child's teacher immediately.

5.  Make hand washing a household rule.  The inner walls of a school are full of germs, sneezes, coughs, viruses and miserable sick children whose parents had to get to a meeting. You've got two choices when it comes to dealing with the petri dish full of kids, stay vigilant or sick.

If nothing else, handwashing must become a MUST. Make it a rule, beginning on the first day of school, the second your child(ren) walk through the door after school, hands have to be washed. Well.

Most of all, Get ready, your little one isn't the only one learning and growing up as a result of starting school.